Patience With Ourselves and Others

This morning's parable of the fig tree which had failed to bear fruit over a three year period, and for which the gardener pleaded with the owner to give another year, promising to cultivate and fertilize it, provides aa needed reminder to us of the slow progress we all are making in our spiritual lives and the patience we need to allow that process to proceed.  St. Marcellin displayed a similar patience to that of the gardener with Br. Sylvester, a youngster wearing the habit of a brother, who liked to play and play pranks on the brothers.  When the older brothers complained about his pushing a wheelbarrow through the house, Fr. Champagnat reminded them of his age and, as we would say today, that God had not finished with him yet. One night Br. Sylvester jumped on the back of a figure he thought was a brother his age, and "rode" him all the way up to the top of the stairs before he realized he was on Fr. Champagnat's back.  Br. Sylvester grew up to be a fine brother, leader, and was the first to celebrate a 50th jubilee.
As we look at others and ourselves, we can easily become impatient, or worry that we or they will  "never get it right," but thanks be to God that he is more patient than we are.  There needs to be time for fertilizing and cultivating; let's pray for the patience for that to happen,  We don't know if it worked for the fig tree, but it certainly did for Br. Sylvester.
Bro. Rene